Preview: Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Schulhoff & Rachmaninov

It would be great to report that all of the lost scores of silenced Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff that have been rescued for James Conlon’s “Breaking the Silence” series have been masterpieces, but alas, many of these quirky pieces heard here recently are rather square and naïve early European impressions of early American jazz. When Schulhoff remained within the classical European tradition, however, as is the case with his First Symphony that will be heard on this Conlon-conducted CSO program—the last of this year’s series—the results are more promising. Russian-Israeli pianist Yefim Bronfman closes out the evening by taking on the “Rach 3,” as the most virtuosic of the beloved Romantic Russian composer’s piano concertos has been known since the film “Shine” put it in the spotlight. (Dennis Polkow)